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New York City will require proof of vaccination for all those working and patronizing indoor restaurants, gyms and indoor performance venues.

On Tuesday morning, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the plan, which is said to be the first of its kind in the country, at a press briefing attended by representatives from the restaurant industry, lawmakers, and public health experts.

"If you don’t get vaccinated, you’re going to get left out of a lot of things," the mayor said.

Although he called mandating vaccination in the restaurant industry a "very difficult step," he said it would ultimately prove essential in protecting public health and preventing a return to restrictions and shutdowns.

New York City is electing to tighten vaccination requirements even as it passes on reinstating an indoor mask mandate, a move that has drawn criticism from public health experts who said the city needs to take a multi-pronged approach.

"Real public health is about protecting the health of all New Yorkers, regardless of vaccination status, race/ethnicity, income, education, political beliefs, and whether they are yet of voting age, etc.," Nash said.

As with other recent policy announcements, the mayor was joined by prominent experts and lawmakers, including Representative Adriano Espaillat and City Council member Mark Levine.

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